Is it morally right to choose to father a child after the age of 50?

Question

...given the average age of death for a male is around 74 years.

Answer 1

it depends i guess, but why not?

Answer 2

I don't think it is morally wrong.

Anyone can die at any time, the only problem with fathering a child after the age of 50 is that they won't be around to see there child grow into an aldult and so on... But it is there choice and if they chose to do that its all good.

Answer 3

i don't think there's anythign wrong with it.  We could get really philosophical about whether it's right to bring children into the world for lots of reasons.  This would be way, way, way down my list as a reason not to parent.

Answer 4

I don't think it is morally wrong, no. Sometimes it isn't the best decision depending on your situation but it is up to the Father. There is some Scientific evidence to suggest that babies of older men are more likely to suffer from bone defect or have other genetic problems. It is suggested that the sperm of older men can pass on weakness to a baby and result in higher risk of Down Syndrome.

When my sister was born, her Dad was fifty-one. She now has hyper-mobile joints, where her joints are more mobile than they should be. Hers are 65% more mobile than normal and she has difficulty walking for long periods of time and suffers aching and clicking joints. It has been said that this is because of the age of her Father.

I think it depends on your health and situation. The issue that the average age of death is around 74 doesn't seem to be an issue for me, anyone could die at any point in their lives. Many live past the age of 74 and many don't make it, that's just life. So my answer is no, it isn't morally incorrect but maybe for some it should require more thinking.

Answer 5

I do- we need to be reasonably sure to be around for our children. There is enough that can happen unexpectedly, why have a situation like that.

Answer 6

You can die at any moment. I don't see it as wrong to have children later in life. I mean unless you are 70 then you are really skating on thin ice